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OK. Time to go for it and get cleats on my shoes. That means I have to get new pedals. Maybe pedals I could use with or without the cleats? Any suggestions before I head for my LBS? Either suggestions as to which pedals to go for or on how to choose pedals once I get to the LBS and see the probably overwhelming selection.
There is an overwhelming selection and all different styles. First need to decide, road shoe or MTB shoe? pedals are made for different functions. Hopefully you trust your bike shop and have someone there to show you the different pedals and explain how they work etc.
I use the Dura Ace pedals on my road bike. Love them but they aren't everyone's cup of tea. Before used Speedplays, loved them as well but the small platform bothered my foot. The larger Dura Ace platform solved that problem. Strangely I didn't miss all that float I thought I needed.
On my MTB bikes, I use the Time ZControl platform. Really like these pedals but they aren't good if you don't have enough leg strength to twist out of the cleat.
The Crank Brother egg beater pedals (and there are many styles) are good. As are all the Time and Look pedals. I am not a fan of Shimano SPD's but I would say they are the most popular pedal on road and dirt. Again your bike shop should help you sort all this out. And remember its not just a pedal but a pedal and shoe system you need to look at.
PS: If you get the ZControl or Crank Mallet, you can ride without engaging the cleat, i.e. on top of the pedal.
I've got the Shimano SPD's on two MTB pairs and one road pair and one hiking boots pair. The nice thing is you can buy them for $10 if you have a bunch of shoes, or often the LBS will give you a set for free. I haven't had any problems with them. But I don't know what I'm missing...
My pedals are Shimano 959's and 747's and 520's. The 520's came with my new road bike, so I left on the black plastic thingy-s that make the pedals so you can ride them with street shoes if you are trying the bike without your bike shoes. And put the 520's on my spare bike.
I really wanted to try Eggbeaters, and actually had a pair that a friend got at Interbike for cheap, but then he took them back because he wanted them on both bikes, and I never got my own set.
Nanci
I elected to get MTB SPD's because they have several versions that can be used with or without cleats. The main reason for that being high on my priority list is that I ride year-round and have found that the most comfortable, warmest footwear (down to -4F) is a pair on ordinary winter boots. At cold temps no insole insulates the cleats enough, I've tried many.
Also I like being able to wear sandals in the summer or wet conditions over 45F. This way I can ride comfortably whatever my footwear. Some MTB shoes will need to have the lugs closest to the cleat shaved down some, I use a Stanley Shurform plane for that. That's my $.02.